Life at GW
Learn more about student life at GW, from dining and housing to sports and extracurricular activities.
The GW undergraduate exchange program fosters academic immersion via direct enrollment in our university from one of over fifty higher education exchange partners around the world. The exchange model provides an enriching cultural experience within the United States, and in particular, in Washington, D.C.
International undergraduate exchange students work closely with the Office for Study Abroad at GW to enroll as a full-time student during the semester or academic year for which they are nominated. The Office for Study Abroad provides support and assistance for students throughout their entire exchange experience.
For more information on graduate-level exchange programs, there are detailed resources available through the participating schools. If you are seeking graduate exchanges with other GW schools, please send your inquiry to [email protected].
Learn more about student life at GW, from dining and housing to sports and extracurricular activities.
GW has 10 undergraduate schools and colleges, offering a breadth of academic opportunities across all disciplines.
See the quick details about GW using this handy fact sheet.
At GW, faculty and students not only study the world but also work to change it. GW provides a rare combination of academic resources in an engaging university setting in the heart of Washington, D.C. Offering a wide selection of learning experiences -- from lectures and seminars to hands-on labs-- partnerships with organizations and museums, a world-class library, and state-of-the-art technology, GW's goal is to prepare students to become citizens of a global society ready to face the challenges of this still new century.
GW operates on a semester basis, with 15 weeks in each semester. The semesters are referred to as fall (late August through late December) and spring (early January through mid-May).
Students attending GW for a degree enter a degree program that focuses on a particular major or area of study. Exchange students are admitted to GW as non-degree students and can register for courses in any of the undergraduate majors.
An individual course or class can be administered in one of two ways: large lecture or small seminar.
The lecture class is frequently used at the undergraduate level, particularly for the first two years of study. Lectures are sometimes large and make discussions difficult. For this reason, a lecture will often be supplemented with a recitation or discussion session to permit discussion and/or scientific experimentation.
A seminar is the most common form of instruction at the graduate level; however seminars are also used in upper level undergraduate courses as well. These classes are generally smaller, permitting opportunities for direct student participation and closer interactions with professors.
GW uses a credit system that can be used to determine contact hours . Typically, one credit hour is equivalent to one contact hour. Undergraduate courses range from 1 to 6 credit hours, however, a typical undergraduate course is usually 3 or 4 credits.
Exchange students are required to maintain a full-time course load which equates to 12 credits. Most students will elect to take 15 credits which typically equates to 5 courses. The maximum number of credits to enroll in is 17 credits. Exchange students can enroll in a maximum of 17 credit hours as part of the tuition waiver.
Exchange students may enroll in any of GW’s six undergraduate schools and take undergraduate courses in any subject area. A sample of the various disciplines includes:
Exchange students may not enroll in these courses: graduate level courses (labeled 4999 and above), courses in the fields of interior design & architecture, law, nursing, medicine, or courses in the Semester in Washington Program (denoted as PGMT).
Students are encouraged to consult the GW Bulletin and Schedule of Classes when preparing for their course registration.
Undergraduate exchange students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Test | Minimum Score | Standard Score |
---|---|---|
TOEFL | ||
Paper-based Test | 577 | 600 |
Internet-based Test | 90 | 100 |
Academic IELTS | ||
Overall band score | 6.5 | 7.0 |
Individual band score | 5.5 | 6.5 |
*Students from these schools are exempt from submitting the TOEFL or IELTS score reports:
Students who meet the university’s minimum requirements but do not meet or exceed the standard scores will be required to enroll in the English for Academic Purposes course. The English for Academic Purposes course is worth 3 credit hours and counts towards the overall credit requirement for students during their first semester. Students are notified in their admission letter if they are expected to complete this requirement.
In addition to fulfilling the academic requirements, exchange students are expected to show proof of financial support at the time of application. Information on the costs of attending GW for a semester is indicated in the Costs section.
GW's Cost of Attendance is published annually by the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
For questions regarding the undergraduate exchange program, please contact [email protected].
The Office for Study Abroad offers specific programming to support exchange students during their time at GW.
Exchange students acclimate to life at GW during a week-long mandatory orientation program prior to the start of the semester, run by the Office for Study Abroad Exchange Team and GW student volunteers, who have recently studied abroad.
The International Services Office (ISO) and Office for Study Abroad work together to provide immigration advising and support for exchange students on a J-1 visa. The ISO serves as the primary administrative, programming and immigration advising office for the GW international community.
Being a GW exchange student grants you access to over 500 student clubs and organizations, as well as special access to exchange student and international student focused events and workshops.
Before each semester, the Office for Study Abroad notifies partners regarding the number of exchange spots available and then the Exchange Coordinator sends a Call for Nominations. In order for exchange students to access the online application system, partners must complete and submit an online form by the nomination deadline. A link to the online form will be included in the Call for Nominations. When the admission cycle officially opens, the Exchange Team will process nominations and email students with application instructions.
In the online application system, ISO Gateway, students can view a list of application requirements for admission.
Exchange students are required to submit specific documents to apply. Each of the items must be submitted by the applicant online through ISO Gateway.
*Minimum and standard scores can be found in the Admission Requirements section. Students from the following schools are exempt from submitting TOEFL or IELTS score reports:
Exchange students who submit a complete application by the deadline can anticipate receiving a notification of admission approximately two to three weeks after the deadline. If admitted, they will receive detailed information regarding:
If you have any questions, please contact the Exchange team at [email protected].
Term | Call for Nominations | Nomination Deadline | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Late February | Late March | Late April |
Academic Year | Late February | Late March | Late April |
Spring | Mid-July | Early September | Mid-September |
Office for Study Abroad
University Student Center
800 21st Street NW
Suite 505
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202-994-1649
Fax: 202-994-9133
Main Contact: [email protected]
For Inbound Exchange Inquiries: [email protected]
For Outbound Exchange Inquiries from International Partners only: [email protected]